Snapshot: Tax-exempt property, 2012
By Matt Carroll, Boston Globe | April 19, 2012
The percent of tax-exempt property varies widely from community to community. Some have large amounts of parkland, others large schools or churches. Communities with a large percent of property value that is tax exempt include Boston and Chelsea. The 2012 data is from the Department of Revenue.
| Community | Percent of tax exempt property, 2012 | Rank | Total amount of property, 2012 |
| ABINGTON | 7.1 | 229 | $1,900,613,083 |
| ACTON | 6.3 | 259 | $2,147,483,647 |
| ACUSHNET | 4.9 | 316 | $1,120,678,481 |
| ADAMS | 12 | 84 | $561,351,799 |
| AGAWAM | 12 | 85 | $2,147,483,647 |
| ALFORD | 1.7 | 332 | $261,178,118 |
| AMESBURY | 8.8 | 166 | $2,020,229,243 |
| AMHERST | 16.7 | 31 | $2,147,483,647 |
| ANDOVER | 8.6 | 175 | $2,147,483,647 |
| ARLINGTON | 5.9 | 279 | $2,147,483,647 |
| ASHBURNHAM | 13.4 | 66 | $665,091,728 |
| ASHBY | 6.5 | 252 | $301,950,524 |
| ASHFIELD | 7.4 | 217 | $237,354,906 |
| ASHLAND | 4.9 | 317 | $2,147,483,647 |
| ATHOL | 8 | 195 | $720,617,898 |
| ATTLEBORO | 9.7 | 126 | $2,147,483,647 |
| AUBURN | 6.1 | 272 | $1,940,806,351 |
| AVON | 5.9 | 276 | $831,003,550 |
| AYER | 10.3 | 111 | $1,082,654,320 |
| BARNSTABLE | 9.3 | 146 | $2,147,483,647 |
| BARRE | 15.5 | 42 | $481,332,781 |
| BECKET | 5.2 | 306 | $548,440,727 |
| BEDFORD | 12.6 | 77 | $2,147,483,647 |
| BELCHERTOWN | 9.4 | 144 | $1,455,920,354 |
| BELLINGHAM | 5.1 | 308 | $2,147,483,647 |
| BELMONT | 10.7 | 103 | $2,147,483,647 |
| BERKLEY | 9 | 159 | $842,173,353 |
| BERLIN | 7.3 | 221 | $595,358,079 |
| BERNARDSTON | 7.2 | 226 | $234,415,144 |
| BEVERLY | 9.6 | 133 | $2,147,483,647 |
| BILLERICA | 5.8 | 284 | $2,147,483,647 |
| BLACKSTONE | 8.4 | 183 | $906,435,595 |
| BLANDFORD | 18.4 | 23 | $200,894,932 |
| BOLTON | 6.5 | 252 | $941,254,539 |
| BOSTON | 28.2 | 5 | $2,147,483,647 |
| BOURNE | 20.7 | 17 | $2,147,483,647 |
| BOXBOROUGH | 3.8 | 327 | $982,011,052 |
| BOXFORD | 7.4 | 214 | $1,741,774,231 |
| BOYLSTON | 17.2 | 27 | $718,612,540 |
| BRAINTREE | 7.4 | 217 | $2,147,483,647 |
| BREWSTER | 7.1 | 228 | $2,147,483,647 |
| BRIDGEWATER | 15.3 | 45 | $2,147,483,647 |
| BRIMFIELD | 6.9 | 237 | $430,036,137 |
| BROCKTON | 15.9 | 38 | $2,147,483,647 |
| BROOKFIELD | 12.5 | 79 | $303,542,562 |
| BROOKLINE | 10.9 | 97 | $2,147,483,647 |
| BUCKLAND | 10.5 | 105 | $237,716,809 |
| BURLINGTON | 9.1 | 155 | $2,147,483,647 |
| CANTON | 9.2 | 153 | $2,147,483,647 |
| CARLISLE | 5.8 | 286 | $1,335,062,046 |
| CARVER | 6.2 | 263 | $1,196,836,500 |
| CHARLEMONT | 12.5 | 78 | $150,099,593 |
| CHARLTON | 16.3 | 35 | $1,650,903,926 |
| CHATHAM | 6.3 | 262 | $2,147,483,647 |
| CHELMSFORD | 5.5 | 296 | $2,147,483,647 |
| CHELSEA | 29.9 | 4 | $2,147,483,647 |
| CHESHIRE | 13.8 | 61 | $356,696,506 |
| CHESTER | 9.7 | 129 | $132,013,071 |
| CHESTERFIELD | 9.9 | 122 | $160,273,650 |
| CHICOPEE | 16 | 36 | $2,147,483,647 |
| CLARKSBURG | 7 | 231 | $133,092,768 |
| CLINTON | 15.6 | 40 | $1,255,161,803 |
| COHASSET | 6.2 | 266 | $2,147,483,647 |
| COLRAIN | 6.9 | 236 | $175,331,157 |
| CONCORD | 12.6 | 75 | $2,147,483,647 |
| CONWAY | 6.4 | 255 | $276,686,256 |
| CUMMINGTON | 14.6 | 50 | $163,065,674 |
| DALTON | 11.7 | 89 | $684,689,045 |
| DANVERS | 12.8 | 71 | $2,147,483,647 |
| DARTMOUTH | 9.7 | 125 | $2,147,483,647 |
| DEDHAM | 13.2 | 68 | $2,147,483,647 |
| DEERFIELD | 26.6 | 6 | $905,103,563 |
| DENNIS | 2.7 | 331 | $2,147,483,647 |
| DIGHTON | 10.2 | 113 | $934,506,262 |
| DOUGLAS | 8.5 | 179 | $925,589,492 |
| DOVER | 12.2 | 81 | $2,147,483,647 |
| DRACUT | 6.6 | 248 | $2,147,483,647 |
| DUDLEY | 10.8 | 98 | $935,831,856 |
| DUNSTABLE | 5.3 | 299 | $485,217,241 |
| DUXBURY | 8.7 | 169 | $2,147,483,647 |
| EAST BRIDGEWATER | 6.9 | 238 | $1,644,509,500 |
| EAST BROOKFIELD | 9 | 157 | $244,814,941 |
| EASTHAM | 7.3 | 222 | $2,147,483,647 |
| EASTHAMPTON | 9.2 | 149 | $1,543,803,068 |
| EAST LONGMEADOW | 8.4 | 182 | $1,935,843,942 |
| EASTON | 8.8 | 167 | $2,147,483,647 |
| EGREMONT | 13.6 | 65 | $451,606,418 |
| ERVING | 4.3 | 322 | $657,262,046 |
| ESSEX | 5.8 | 283 | $797,817,426 |
| EVERETT | 14.2 | 57 | $2,147,483,647 |
| FAIRHAVEN | 8.1 | 192 | $2,122,764,087 |
| FALL RIVER | 14.6 | 50 | $2,147,483,647 |
| FALMOUTH | 9.3 | 146 | $2,147,483,647 |
| FITCHBURG | 19.8 | 18 | $2,147,483,647 |
| FLORIDA | 4.9 | 318 | $132,902,231 |
| FOXBOROUGH | 21.6 | 13 | $2,147,483,647 |
| FRAMINGHAM | 11.8 | 87 | $2,147,483,647 |
| FRANKLIN | 8.3 | 186 | $2,147,483,647 |
| FREETOWN | 7 | 235 | $1,223,285,720 |
| GARDNER | 15.9 | 37 | $1,409,220,803 |
| GEORGETOWN | 7.9 | 199 | $1,239,503,524 |
| GILL | 29.9 | 3 | $216,805,756 |
| GLOUCESTER | 7.4 | 219 | $2,147,483,647 |
| GOSHEN | 5.5 | 297 | $150,646,463 |
| GRAFTON | 8.8 | 165 | $2,147,483,647 |
| GRANBY | 5.6 | 291 | $606,716,524 |
| GRANVILLE | 22.4 | 11 | $264,024,437 |
| GREAT BARRINGTON | 15.9 | 39 | $1,606,266,807 |
| GREENFIELD | 15.2 | 47 | $1,589,251,824 |
| GROTON | 15.6 | 41 | $1,800,801,316 |
| GROVELAND | 6.5 | 251 | $890,612,890 |
| HADLEY | 14.3 | 56 | $1,061,121,421 |
| HALIFAX | 5 | 314 | $825,808,040 |
| HAMILTON | 13.6 | 64 | $1,495,788,178 |
| HAMPDEN | 4.7 | 319 | $579,507,120 |
| HANCOCK | 3.6 | 328 | $311,304,257 |
| HANOVER | 8.6 | 172 | $2,147,483,647 |
| HANSON | 12 | 83 | $1,331,363,230 |
| HARDWICK | 22.2 | 12 | $301,384,195 |
| HARVARD | 15 | 48 | $1,239,439,466 |
| HARWICH | 5.7 | 289 | $2,147,483,647 |
| HATFIELD | 5.5 | 295 | $545,163,380 |
| HAVERHILL | 8 | 196 | $2,147,483,647 |
| HAWLEY | 13.7 | 63 | $53,931,886 |
| HEATH | 7.4 | 216 | $94,676,292 |
| HINGHAM | 6.2 | 267 | $2,147,483,647 |
| HINSDALE | 13.3 | 67 | $314,667,389 |
| HOLBROOK | 5.3 | 302 | $1,062,857,145 |
| HOLDEN | 10.2 | 116 | $2,046,278,800 |
| HOLLAND | 4.4 | 321 | $316,018,607 |
| HOLLISTON | 6.5 | 250 | $2,137,723,500 |
| HOLYOKE | 18.5 | 21 | $2,147,483,647 |
| HOPEDALE | 9.5 | 135 | $724,739,545 |
| HOPKINTON | 5.7 | 288 | $2,147,483,647 |
| HUBBARDSTON | 8.9 | 163 | $476,533,137 |
| HUDSON | 7.1 | 229 | $2,147,483,647 |
| HULL | 9.8 | 124 | $2,023,403,210 |
| HUNTINGTON | 38.8 | 1 | $328,330,255 |
| IPSWICH | 8.9 | 160 | $2,147,483,647 |
| KINGSTON | 12.7 | 73 | $1,939,683,916 |
| LAKEVILLE | 8.3 | 184 | $1,562,837,655 |
| LANCASTER | 21 | 15 | $998,274,858 |
| LANESBOROUGH | 7.5 | 213 | $439,027,224 |
| LAWRENCE | 18 | 25 | $2,147,483,647 |
| LEE | 11.4 | 91 | $993,521,147 |
| LEICESTER | 10.3 | 111 | $1,017,341,508 |
| LENOX | 11.7 | 88 | $1,268,211,610 |
| LEOMINSTER | 11.3 | 93 | $2,147,483,647 |
| LEVERETT | 7.4 | 219 | $269,903,571 |
| LEXINGTON | 7.7 | 205 | $2,147,483,647 |
| LEYDEN | 9.2 | 150 | $95,071,514 |
| LINCOLN | 18.4 | 22 | $2,147,483,647 |
| LITTLETON | 7.7 | 207 | $1,610,701,414 |
| LONGMEADOW | 6.7 | 242 | $2,147,483,647 |
| LOWELL | 16.8 | 29 | $2,147,483,647 |
| LUNENBURG | 5.2 | 303 | $1,182,884,061 |
| LYNN | 10 | 120 | $2,147,483,647 |
| LYNNFIELD | 6.1 | 271 | $2,147,483,647 |
| MALDEN | 10.8 | 101 | $2,147,483,647 |
| MANCHESTER | 7.5 | 212 | $2,147,483,647 |
| MANSFIELD | 6 | 275 | $2,147,483,647 |
| MARBLEHEAD | 5.9 | 276 | $2,147,483,647 |
| MARION | 9.5 | 135 | $1,722,116,578 |
| MARLBOROUGH | 9.2 | 150 | $2,147,483,647 |
| MARSHFIELD | 6.4 | 256 | $2,147,483,647 |
| MASHPEE | 6.7 | 244 | $2,147,483,647 |
| MATTAPOISETT | 8.6 | 171 | $1,704,011,558 |
| MAYNARD | 9.8 | 123 | $1,356,905,015 |
| MEDFIELD | 9.6 | 131 | $2,147,483,647 |
| MEDFORD | 9.4 | 142 | $2,147,483,647 |
| MEDWAY | 6.5 | 249 | $1,738,402,252 |
| MELROSE | 7.7 | 206 | $2,147,483,647 |
| MENDON | 4 | 324 | $831,416,140 |
| MERRIMAC | 6.1 | 273 | $697,088,207 |
| METHUEN | 5.8 | 287 | $2,147,483,647 |
| MIDDLEBOROUGH | 9.4 | 145 | $2,147,483,647 |
| MIDDLEFIELD | 12.9 | 70 | $75,004,861 |
| MIDDLETON | 8.7 | 168 | $1,729,395,154 |
| MILFORD | 6.4 | 254 | $2,147,483,647 |
| MILLBURY | 9.3 | 146 | $1,404,840,779 |
| MILLIS | 6.2 | 265 | $1,061,373,000 |
| MILLVILLE | 6 | 274 | $311,040,400 |
| MILTON | 11.1 | 95 | $2,147,483,647 |
| MONROE | 9.9 | 121 | $24,943,904 |
| MONSON | 10.1 | 119 | $811,238,750 |
| MONTAGUE | 14.6 | 50 | $857,005,238 |
| MONTEREY | 10.1 | 118 | $556,486,528 |
| MONTGOMERY | 4.7 | 320 | $103,259,442 |
| MOUNT WASHINGTON | 30.7 | 2 | $120,887,398 |
| NAHANT | 8.9 | 164 | $802,414,858 |
| NANTUCKET | 15.5 | 43 | $2,147,483,647 |
| NATICK | 8.1 | 192 | $2,147,483,647 |
| NEEDHAM | 7.2 | 224 | $2,147,483,647 |
| NEW BEDFORD | 16.7 | 30 | $2,147,483,647 |
| NEW BRAINTREE | 19.6 | 19 | $130,193,357 |
| NEWBURY | 13 | 69 | $1,382,246,249 |
| NEWBURYPORT | 7.9 | 198 | $2,147,483,647 |
| NEW MARLBOROUGH | 4.2 | 323 | $476,092,400 |
| NEW SALEM | 26.5 | 7 | $161,531,469 |
| NEWTON | 14 | 59 | $2,147,483,647 |
| NORFOLK | 6.2 | 268 | $1,551,084,053 |
| NORTH ADAMS | 20.8 | 16 | $891,154,264 |
| NORTHAMPTON | 22.4 | 10 | $2,147,483,647 |
| NORTH ANDOVER | 9.1 | 154 | $2,147,483,647 |
| NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH | 5.9 | 280 | $2,147,483,647 |
| NORTHBOROUGH | 5.2 | 304 | $2,147,483,647 |
| NORTHBRIDGE | 9.5 | 138 | $1,548,779,120 |
| NORTH BROOKFIELD | 11.5 | 90 | $445,020,175 |
| NORTHFIELD | 10.2 | 113 | $473,275,843 |
| NORTH READING | 6.8 | 239 | $2,147,483,647 |
| NORTON | 14.9 | 49 | $2,147,483,647 |
| NORWELL | 7.2 | 225 | $2,147,483,647 |
| NORWOOD | 5 | 312 | $2,147,483,647 |
| OAK BLUFFS | 9.6 | 131 | $2,147,483,647 |
| OAKHAM | 10.8 | 101 | $224,486,901 |
| ORANGE | 9.7 | 126 | $546,544,926 |
| ORLEANS | 6.2 | 264 | $2,147,483,647 |
| OTIS | 5.1 | 309 | $654,885,981 |
| PALMER | 12.7 | 74 | $1,091,292,753 |
| PAXTON | 13.8 | 62 | $535,271,206 |
| PEABODY | 9.7 | 128 | $2,147,483,647 |
| PELHAM | 16.4 | 33 | $203,106,800 |
| PEMBROKE | 7.3 | 223 | $2,147,483,647 |
| PEPPERELL | 6.3 | 261 | $1,232,465,233 |
| PERU | 10.4 | 107 | $99,405,687 |
| PETERSHAM | 24.6 | 9 | $191,448,621 |
| PHILLIPSTON | 6.6 | 245 | $200,834,355 |
| PITTSFIELD | 17.4 | 26 | $2,147,483,647 |
| PLAINVILLE | 6.3 | 257 | $1,208,007,072 |
| PLYMPTON | 3.5 | 329 | $381,026,530 |
| PRINCETON | 11.9 | 86 | $494,949,223 |
| PROVINCETOWN | 7.9 | 197 | $2,147,483,647 |
| QUINCY | 12.8 | 72 | $2,147,483,647 |
| RANDOLPH | 7.6 | 209 | $2,147,483,647 |
| RAYNHAM | 5.5 | 294 | $1,856,352,960 |
| READING | 7 | 234 | $2,147,483,647 |
| REHOBOTH | 3.9 | 326 | $1,687,982,491 |
| REVERE | 8.3 | 185 | $2,147,483,647 |
| RICHMOND | 5.2 | 304 | $436,694,615 |
| ROCHESTER | 9.6 | 130 | $885,792,100 |
| ROCKLAND | 8.6 | 174 | $1,872,923,850 |
| ROCKPORT | 6.8 | 241 | $1,923,162,600 |
| ROWE | 3.2 | 330 | $314,570,389 |
| ROWLEY | 3.9 | 325 | $874,685,200 |
| RUSSELL | 8.6 | 175 | $149,547,644 |
| RUTLAND | 11.2 | 94 | $827,151,600 |
| SALEM | 14.1 | 58 | $2,147,483,647 |
| SALISBURY | 5.9 | 278 | $1,544,902,925 |
| SANDISFIELD | 6.6 | 247 | $252,080,244 |
| SANDWICH | 10.4 | 106 | $2,147,483,647 |
| SAUGUS | 6.8 | 239 | $2,147,483,647 |
| SAVOY | 14.6 | 53 | $73,585,714 |
| SCITUATE | 6.1 | 269 | $2,147,483,647 |
| SEEKONK | 5 | 315 | $2,147,483,647 |
| SHARON | 9.2 | 150 | $2,147,483,647 |
| SHEFFIELD | 19.2 | 20 | $771,238,595 |
| SHELBURNE | 9.5 | 135 | $252,482,777 |
| SHERBORN | 8.5 | 180 | $1,247,556,387 |
| SHIRLEY | 16.6 | 32 | $695,031,262 |
| SHREWSBURY | 6.7 | 243 | $2,147,483,647 |
| SHUTESBURY | 8.2 | 190 | $234,485,700 |
| SOMERSET | 7.7 | 204 | $2,147,483,647 |
| SOMERVILLE | 12.6 | 76 | $2,147,483,647 |
| SOUTHAMPTON | 5.1 | 307 | $684,860,485 |
| SOUTHBOROUGH | 10.8 | 100 | $2,147,483,647 |
| SOUTHBRIDGE | 16.9 | 28 | $1,091,715,151 |
| SOUTH HADLEY | 10.4 | 107 | $1,648,466,420 |
| SOUTHWICK | 5.9 | 280 | $1,082,070,495 |
| SPENCER | 8.9 | 160 | $1,012,382,945 |
| SPRINGFIELD | 16.4 | 34 | $2,147,483,647 |
| STERLING | 12.4 | 80 | $1,088,986,040 |
| STONEHAM | 9.5 | 141 | $2,147,483,647 |
| STOUGHTON | 7 | 232 | $2,147,483,647 |
| STOW | 7.1 | 227 | $1,232,343,730 |
| STURBRIDGE | 8.5 | 177 | $1,229,925,941 |
| SUDBURY | 6.3 | 258 | $2,147,483,647 |
| SUNDERLAND | 9.4 | 143 | $383,260,891 |
| SUTTON | 5.4 | 298 | $1,255,245,964 |
| SWAMPSCOTT | 5.6 | 293 | $2,147,483,647 |
| SWANSEA | 6.1 | 270 | $2,066,183,420 |
| TAUNTON | 14.5 | 54 | $2,147,483,647 |
| TEMPLETON | 10.2 | 115 | $647,361,154 |
| TEWKSBURY | 5.1 | 309 | $2,147,483,647 |
| TOLLAND | 10.4 | 109 | $203,469,973 |
| TOPSFIELD | 5.7 | 290 | $1,221,479,389 |
| TOWNSEND | 13.9 | 60 | $942,828,812 |
| TRURO | 7.9 | 200 | $2,147,483,647 |
| TYNGSBOROUGH | 8.4 | 181 | $1,508,998,280 |
| TYRINGHAM | 11.3 | 92 | $207,924,380 |
| UPTON | 10.2 | 117 | $1,119,840,047 |
| UXBRIDGE | 5 | 311 | $1,588,897,256 |
| WAKEFIELD | 7.8 | 201 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WALES | 15.3 | 44 | $194,314,999 |
| WALPOLE | 8.1 | 191 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WALTHAM | 14.5 | 54 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WARE | 10.8 | 99 | $842,360,510 |
| WAREHAM | 7.5 | 211 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WARREN | 8.6 | 170 | $387,474,514 |
| WARWICK | 21.2 | 14 | $103,347,836 |
| WATERTOWN | 8.3 | 188 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WAYLAND | 7 | 233 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WEBSTER | 7.8 | 202 | $1,530,844,380 |
| WELLESLEY | 9.5 | 140 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WELLFLEET | 6.3 | 260 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WENHAM | 8.6 | 172 | $763,448,938 |
| WESTBOROUGH | 8.2 | 189 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WEST BOYLSTON | 12.2 | 81 | $933,564,725 |
| WEST BRIDGEWATER | 8 | 194 | $1,060,663,385 |
| WEST BROOKFIELD | 9.5 | 139 | $409,088,952 |
| WESTFIELD | 8.3 | 187 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WESTFORD | 9 | 158 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WESTHAMPTON | 11 | 96 | $250,248,309 |
| WESTMINSTER | 9 | 156 | $920,601,256 |
| WEST NEWBURY | 7.8 | 203 | $782,812,702 |
| WESTON | 18.3 | 24 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WESTPORT | 6.6 | 245 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WEST SPRINGFIELD | 7.4 | 214 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WESTWOOD | 5.8 | 282 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WEYMOUTH | 10.7 | 104 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WHATELY | 5.6 | 292 | $250,937,353 |
| WHITMAN | 5 | 313 | $1,381,736,786 |
| WILBRAHAM | 7.5 | 210 | $1,804,631,400 |
| WILLIAMSBURG | 7.6 | 208 | $333,956,582 |
| WILLIAMSTOWN | 25.9 | 8 | $1,391,126,550 |
| WILMINGTON | 5.3 | 300 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WINCHENDON | 15.2 | 46 | $782,842,600 |
| WINCHESTER | 5.3 | 300 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WINTHROP | 10.3 | 110 | $1,870,839,200 |
| WOBURN | 8.9 | 162 | $2,147,483,647 |
| WORTHINGTON | 9.6 | 134 | $179,159,136 |
| WRENTHAM | 8.5 | 178 | $1,863,241,580 |
| YARMOUTH | 5.8 | 284 | $2,147,483,647 |